MPR CONSULTING A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND SITES BEGINS WITH A SIMPLE CLICK
love & life
reggae summertime
I-OCTANE
OMARI BANKS
K'CONEIL
12 months, 11 singles
2 continents 1 summer
leaving a legacy
CALEB HART
EARTHKRY
KATCHAFIRE
ISSUE 03 • SPRING/SUMMER 2018
teams up with afrobeat star
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I-OCTANE BY KAY TREMBLAY Released on March 30th, 2018, International recording artist IOctane third full length album "Love & Life" has given the crooner validation for his hard work not only from successful album sales, but rather for the feedback of love and support from fans, music lovers and the entertainment industry. Debuting at #3 on the Reggae Billboard Chart, and presently still topping the top 10 chart, "Love & Life" album has offered breakthrough tracks of all genres. "REGGAE POP IS UNDERRATED IN THE INDUSTRY. THOSE MELLOW DRUMS AND ACCOMPANYING VIBES BEG FOR REPLAY VALUE, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU GET FROM LOVE AND LIFE BY I-OCTANE. LOVE AND LIFE‘S MANY MOTIONS IN ONE" INDIEBANDGURU After a successful album release events in New York and Florida, I-Octane joined twice GRAMMY nominated J-Boog in California as special guest on JBoog's L.O.E tour. This summer will see the billboard star take the Reggae Sumfest stage. "LOVE & LIFE" AVAILABLE AT SMARTURL.IT/IOCTANELOVEANDLIFE
OMARI BANKS: DELIVERING REGGAE TO INDIA BY KAY TREMBLAY Spring 2018 saw former international cricketer and now world-renowned reggae artist Omari Banks make his musical debut in India with an enthralling performance, and the video premiere of REGGAE SUMMERTIME. Speaking on the occasion, Omari Banks said “I thank the lovely people of Pune for their love, respect and support which has made my first ever musical appearance in India truly successful and memorable. And how can I forget my friends, ‘the champions*’ – Chris and Dwayne for their support and encouragement not today, but all these years”. Watch REGGAE SUMMERTIME and get the single at tinyurl.com/OmariBanksYT
“India with it’s astounding diversity of religion, language and culture provides the perfect environment for my reggae music which apart from the fun element aspires to bond and connect people. In many ways besides my family; cricket and music are undeniably part of who I am, so It's an honor to take part in the cricket activities, and to play my music. I have fond memories of India, th people have always showed so much love. In many ways this is like a homecoming, great to see old friends and peers. And for those who know me then, they know I constantly traveled with my guitar; so in a way I have completed the full circle today with my performance and world wide premiere of Reggae Summertime video” added Omari Banks. PAGE 03
“THE ONLY TRUTH IS MUSIC.” JACK KEROUAC
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EARTHKRY SUMMER 2018
BY KAY TREMBLAY For the latter part of 2018, roots rock reggae band EarthKry has been on a whirlwind tour, which has seen them, carry the reggae legacy throughout various cities in the United States. June 2018 saw the self-contained band joined Katachafire, the legendary reggae band from Hamilton, New Zealand as guests on selected dates of their U.S summer 2018 "Love Legacy" tour in Florida (Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Jupiter, Miami, Jacksonville Beach), Texas (Austin, Dallas, Tucson) and Phoenix, Arizona. Thereafter, the roots, rock reggae band will head out to Europe for their highly anticipated Survival Europe Summer 2018 Tour that will see Vocalist/Guitarist Aldayne Haughtron, Keyboardist Phillip Mcfarlane, Drummer Kieron Cunningham and Bassist Kamardo Blake touch some of Europe biggest stages. "As our aim has been through the vibrations of music to trod the footsteps of The Wailers, Peter Tosh, Jacob Miller, Black Uhuru and Steel Pulse. We have admire other bands who aim to emulate the message, Katachafire has echoed the same sentiment through their various songs, to which we have become fans." - Phillip Mcfarlane
”AS THE BAND’S SET WENT ON, IT SOUNDED AS IF ITS MEMBERS HAD CHOSEN THE BEST PARTS OF EVERY KIND OF MUSIC AND MADE IT A PART OF WHAT THEY DO. THERE WERE GUITAR SOLOS THAT LINGERED AND MADE THE INSTRUMENT SPEAK AS PRINCE DID, VOCAL HARMONIES REMINISCENT OF GREAT 70S R&B BANDS LIKE EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE, KEYBOARDS THAT KEPT BRINGING ONE BACK TO THE GREAT BILLY PRESTON, AND BACK BEATS THAT OWED AS MUCH OF A DEBT TO BANDS LIKE P-FUNK AS THEY DID TO STEEL PULSE' - KAREN, PONZIO, NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
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K'CONEIL BY KAY TREMBLAY Since creating his own lane with his "genre fluid" sound, JUNO nominated recording artist K'Coneil is often asked to explain the latter, "it is the ability to float in and out of different genres", the budding star explains but demonstrates it better through his music such as his latest hit bound track "Balance" featuring Ghana's Afrobeat topliner Stonebwoy. The single meshes the influences of K'Coneil's reggae roots and the musical melting pot of his urban surroundings in New York City, with Afrobeat, a style of popular music incorporating elements of African music and jazz, soul, and funk. Speaking on the collaboration with Stonebwoy, K'Coneil explained "We met at a show at the Gramercy Theatre in NYC in 2017. I liked his energy and what he has built with the fusion of the African music scene and Jamaican Dancehall. Me being "Mr. Genrefuild" and my vision to improve the fluidity between the genres, makes the collaboration just natural and unforced. He's really a dope artist who's versatility goes beyond just one genre. Afrobeat in my opinion is one of the biggest growing global urban music genres and the world has no choice but to recognize its infection. It reminds me of how Reggae/Dancehall chartered its own rhythmic and soulful course on the world scene as an art form. Its fun, its hip, and is a massive wave right now that is here to stay." Since it's June 1st release, "Balance" has received rave reviews from fans and some of the most popular disc jokeys who have since blared the airwaves and added the hit bound song to their playlist. A Keynote Records production with a beat creation by Ghana's Moniebeats, the track was written by K'Coneil, Steadley Reid, Fernandez Griffiths and Stonebwoy and is now available on all digital outlets at smarturl.it/balance-ks
"K'CONEIL AND STONEBWOY INTERTWINE CREATIVE MELODIES AND FUN LYRICS OVER A GROOVY TRACK. APTLY TITLED BALANCE, THE SONG HIGHLIGHTS THE COMING TOGETHER OF JAMAICA'S NEXT BREAK OUT INTERNATIONAL STAR, K'CONEIL AND STONEBWOY, GHANA'S BIGGEST DANCEHALL EXPORT."
KATCHAFIRE LEGACY BY KAY TREMBLAY New Zealand roots reggae ambassadors KATCHAFIRE released their new ‘Legacy’ album to rave reviews while hitting No.1 on the NZ iTunes Album Chart and No.1 on the US iTunes Reggae Chart!! (via Universal NZ / Zojak Worldwide). The exciting and fresh ‘LEGACY’ album delivers messages of love, hope, togetherness, and family; Permeated with 12 songs, the album was recorded in numerous studios around the world from New Zealand and Australia, to LA, Hawaii and Jamaica. While the cover art displays the remarkable works of Hawaiian artist Herb Kane’s “War Canoes Of The New Zealand Maori”, ‘LEGACY’ credits such notables producers as Clive Hunt, Bulby York, Dean Fraser, Rohan Dwyer and Notis Heavyweight Rockaz from Jamaica and James Bonzai Caruso of USA.
WORLD exNZ - smarturl.it/Katchafire-Legacy NZ – https://umusicnz.lnk.to/KatchafireLegacy
"With Legacy, Katchafire continue their conscious journey through space and time, adding their very own flavour to the universe of Reggae music. Their growing popularity both home and abroad will ensure that their feel-good-vibe is available to many concert- and festival-visitors around the world. You better catch this fire!“ - Gardy Stein Reggaeville.com The band who recently was honoured with a nomination for Group Of The Year at the inaugural Island Music Awards in Hawaii, recently embarked on their "Legacy Love Today Tour" in the USA mainland for a 33 date tour before heading to Hawaii. Australian dates in October/November will be announced soon. With a befitting title, Legacy aims to offer music that is sure to stand the test of time. PAGE 07
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